The culinary scene in Lake Norman stays true to it's essence with a multitude of seafood dining options in all three of our towns! Whether you're in the mood for a plate of oysters and a waterfront view at Hello, Sailor or an authentic, piping-hot bowl of seafood gumbo from The Lost Cajun, we are here to help you find the best seafood in town!
Cornelius
131 MAIN
17830 Statesville Road, Cornelius131 MAIN Restaurant in Lake Norman offers classic American cuisine cooked over a Hickory wood fire grill that accentuates the flavors in every dish ranging from steak to seafood. They provide high quality produce, meat, fish and chicken by keeping freshness as their highest priority. Fish from around the world is shipped overnight from the docks to the restaurant every day, such as Ahi Tuna and NC Rainbow Trout. Dishes are always house-made, from salad dressings to desserts. Be prepared for fine dining in a warm and casual atmosphere.
Google Review: "This is a go to when me & one particular friend go out to eat. He loves the salmon appetizer, me the Mexican cornbread!" - KarenHello, Sailor
21201 Henderson Road, Cornelius
Hello, Sailor is one of the most iconic seafood restaurants in the Lake Norman region, serving Southern-style fresh seafood offerings. Hello, Sailor is one of three waterfront dining options in the area and you can even come dine in straight off of the boat! Hello, Sailor focuses on chef-driven dishes based upon the seafood options local to the area, led by the husband-and-wife duo Katy and Joe Kindred. Their menu will often change based on availability of fresh ingredients, but some staples to try include peel neat shrimp, citrus crab louie salad, blue crab claws, and crispy catfish. With their two-time regional best chef nominee Craig Deihl as head chef, you are guaranteed to have a memorable lakefront dining experience!
Waterfront Cocktails at Hello, Sailor
Peninsula Prime Seafood & Steakhouse
19918 North Cove Road, Cornelius
Sea Bass
Peninsula Prime Seafood & Steakhouse provides a menu with signature southern cuisine and great seafood options. The welcoming atmosphere, refreshing cocktails, and featured dishes are sure to make it a great night out! Try their fan favorite items like the Pan Seared Sea Bass, Cedar Plank Roasted Mahi Mahi, or Shrimp Pasta.
Google Review: "Dinner Saturday night was excellent. Attentive staff, appetizers were very tasty, lovely cocktails and entrees were on point. Highly recommend the sea bass, meatloaf, and filet. We will be back!" - OlenaBarrel & Fork
20517 North Main Street, CorneliusInspirational Southern food with a coastal charm! Located within a unique 1906 home, Barrel & Fork originated as a bourbon distillery but has transformed into a local landmark in Cornelius due to their seasonal New American dishes including fresh caught seafood entrees. Led by Executive Chef Justin Morris, all meals are meticulously prepared and served with fresh ingredients and a sense of Southern compassion. Don't forget to try one of their handcrafted cocktails once you are there!
Google Review: "We had a wonderful experience at Barrel & Fork! Our server, Lawrence, was extremely knowledgeable about the menu, the drinks and the restaurant's history." - Allison
Barrel and Fork
Choplin's Restaurant
19700 One Norman Blvd, Cornelius
Can't decide between steak or seafood? You can have the best of both at Choplin's! Head Chef Wes Choplin curates a traditional American cuisine with fresh fish delivered daily from Charleston, SC. Using local, fresh ingredients, Chef Choplin enjoys using fusion techniques combining flavors that you would not normally expect with great results! With Soul Warming south the focus, the menu reflects the fresh seafood, such as Seared Diver Scallops and Sashimi Tuna all the way to Sauteed Carolina Shrimp and Cajun Catfish Reuben!
Cool Fish LKN
21726 Catawba Ave Suite B-2, Cornelius
Spicy Tuna Roll
When owner Alex Atkins opened Cool Fish LKN, he set out to provide a casual dining experience with high-quality food to set Cool Fish apart from the corporate chains. With an easy-going atmosphere and an emphasis on the local community, Cool Fish LKN is a premier sushi spot for diners looking for a lighter, better and healthier dining experience. The menu includes specialty rolls, poke bowls, fish tacos and more, along with local craft beers and cocktails! Cool Fish LKN is not your average sushi restaurant and is a go-to for a light & casual dining experience.
Google Review: "Adding Cool Fish to my favorite list! Sushi, nigiri, and the bowls are all dynamite. So we have great food. What puts this place above all other sushi places? It's amazing beer and cocktail selection with top notch service from everyone" - KJFresh Chef Kitchen
20609 Torrence Chapel Road, Cornelius
Specializing in both traditional lunch, dinner menus and catering, Fresh Chef Kitchen is a great choice for fresh food fast! Fresh Chef operates in a fast casual style open for lunch and dinner serving American cuisine, and they were established in 2014. They are known for their high-quality seafood dishes such as the Shrimp & Grits, a New Orleans and Charleston inspired entree, and their fresh grilled Atlantic salmon! Some great stapes for lunch include their grilled or smoked salmon wrap, or their herb shrimp wrap. Also, there are different daily drink specials and a special brunch menu on Sunday's from 11am - 2pm!
Kat's Seafood Kitchen
19708 W Catawba Ave, Cornelius
Snow Crab Legs with corn on the cob and red potatoes
Located right off of W. Catawba Avenue, Kat's Seafood Kitchen is a family-friendly, American seafood restaurant. Formerly known as the Lake Town Tavern, Kat's Seafood Kitchen re-opened in January of this year with new furnishings and a new menu. Their daily specials have helped make Kat's a go-to in Cornelius, such as the Oyster Happy Hour and Monday's "all-you-can-eat" crab legs. Not only do they have some of the best seafood in Lake Norman, but they also have draft and import beers including drinks from the Catawba Brewing Co! Some of their new menu items include littleneck clams, ahi tuna, and seasonal fish dishes!
Port City Club
18665 Harborside Drive, CorneliusOne of three waterfront restaurants in Lake Norman, Port City Club is a uniquely designed restaurant with outdoor seating and a lounge space. Each room has a view of the lake with a classy yet casual atmosphere, and a covered deck is provided for year round use. Port City offers great lunch options such as the lobster and shrimp roll, or their fish tacos! All meals are prepared in-house on a daily basis, with the pasta and bread made each day and fresh, line-caught Charleston seafood. They are known for their fantastic starter dishes, such as their crab cakes and Pei mussels!
Google Review: "First time at the club and highly enjoyable. The staff are friendly, prompt, helpful and happy. The view of the harbor and the beach area is beautiful. Would definitely return." - Karen
8 oz Atlantic Salmon over a bed of Caesar Salad
The Waterman Fish Bar
9615 Bailey Rd, Cornelius
The Waterman Fish Bar
New to the area, The Waterman Fish Bar has something for everyone. Their amazing wrap-around patio, 360 bar, and indoor dining options make for a great dining experience. The options of their fresh seafood are endless, from oysters to different camp-inspired dishes like The Waterman’s Platter and the Fried Fish Sandwich. Happy Hour oysters are $1.50 on weekdays from 2-7 pm. To finish it off, wash it all down with craft cocktails and cold beer.
Google Review: “Awesome service and happy hour specials. This is by far the BEST seafood restaurant around LKN!” -Kalea
Huntersville
Eez Fusion & Sushi
16925 Birkdale Commons Parkway, HuntersvilleEez Fusion & Sushi is proclaimed as the freshest & most inventive sushi restaurant in the Lake Norman area! Along with the basic nigiri and sashimi roll offerings, Eez utilizes "non-traditional" ingredients for their specialty rolls as well as fresh seafood & steak dishes. All entrees are customizable at the request of each guest with all meats and fish cut daily. For more sushi and Asian specialty restaurants, check out our blog on supporting our local Asian restaurants here.
Google Review: "This restaurant is a MUST!!! I stopped in for a quick lunch and the service was impeccable. I ordered the Bento Box and each item was fresh and unique." - Tanya
Mark's Roll
Dressler's Restaurant
8630-1A Lindholm Drive, Huntersville
Seared Tuna with sesame seed and arugula
Located in Birkdale Village, Dressler's Restaurant offers upscale continental American cuisine centered around seafood and steak. With a refined storefront and a sidewalk patio, Dressler's focuses on establishing a relationship with every guest that enters the restaurant. For the past 16 years, Dressler's has served as the Lake Norman area's destination for distinguished food and drink, welcoming service, and festive events.
Google Review: "Affordable, delicious, courteous staff, great ambiance, food presentation excellent, what's not to like? Lobster enchilada is amazing. And have to finish the night with their tres leches." – RobLink & Pin
9723 Sam Furr Road, HuntersvilleLink & Pin is a chef-driven gastropub with the name inspired by an old railroad term, and the restaurant decor follows suit with a rustic but elegant decor. Link & Pin is also know for the freshness of it's seafood dishes, with an adjusting menu depending on availability of their feature seafood such as the flounder and sea bass. Along with high-quality meals, there is also a cozy bar designed for group gatherings with cocktails and beverages available.
Google Review: "The shrimp and grits was delicious! Also enjoyed the bread pudding... it’s one the best I’ve had!!" – DetrisLink and Pin
The Lost Cajun
9709-A Sam Furr Road, Huntersville
Fried Shrimp Po Boy
Located in Northcross Shopping Center, The Lost Cajun is home to some of our favorite authentic Cajun-family recipes such as their signature gumbos or their mouth-watering fried catfish, shrimp and crawfish dishes! Their gumbos are slow-cooked for 4 to 6 hours daily. And just like all their special dishes such as the lobster bisque, everything is made slowly with care and Southern compassion. Don't forget to order some "beignets," made-to-order pastries originating in the French Quarter from over 100 years ago!
Davidson
FlatIron Kitchen & Taphouse
215 South Main Street, DavidsonFlatIron Kitchen and Taphouse is a diverse New American restaurant specializing in locally sourced dishes with a wide range of seafood options. Led by Chef Bill Schutz, FlatIron provides high-quality meats and fish such as their Waygu beef or their pan-roasted sea scallops. FlatIron features fantastic decor, creating the perfect environment for an upscale dining experience.
Google Review: "You can't beat this place for food, atmosphere and great service." - DougKindred
131 North Main Street, DavidsonLocally owned and chef-driven, Kindred is a stylish American restaurant with a distinctive take on classic dishes. Owner and Chef Joe Kindred blends traditional Southern recipes with international culinary techniques which create a unique dining experience for every single guest. What makes Kindred special is their rotating menus which allows for a new experience even for repeat guests along with sourcing their ingredients from local producers. Kindred is located in historic downtown Davidson and also offers a comprehensive selection of wines.
Google Review: "From the fried oysters to the birthday cake, everything lived up to the hype." - Tara
Fried Oysters at Kindred
North Harbor Club
100-D North Harbor Place, Davidson
Seafood and white wine with waterfront views
North Harbor Club is one of Lake Norman's three waterfront restaurants and offers New-American fine dining seafood options with a waterfront patio and nine boat slips for guests! Led by an executive chef, all entrees are prepared fresh daily with innovative takes on classic dishes. Try out the lobster mac & cheese to start your meal and close it out with cornmeal crusted catfish! North Harbor Club also provides a full bar with beer, wine and spirits available.
Google Review: "Great shrimp and steak dish, and my wife enjoyed her salad with salmon. We dined on the deck overlooking the lake, very nice experience." - TerryRestaurant X
408 South Main Street, DavidsonJust a five minute walk from Davidson College campus, Restaurant X is a cozy bistro with a broad ranging menu featuring international cuisine and seafood-oriented entrees. All dishes are made from scratch with fresh, quality ingredients and Restaurant X also features a unique selection of wines and beers from around the globe! Make sure to try their "Famous Seared Ahi Tuna," one of the restaurant's specialty dishes, and don't forget the Banoffee Pie for dessert!
Google Review: "Very cute place to have a nice meal in Davidson! The calamari is some of the best in the area. Don’t skip the chocolate and PB pie for dessert. Great service as well." - Abby
Fresh Maine Mussels with white wine and garlic sauce
As you can see, there are plenty of options for the seafood-lovers of Lake Norman. Whether you are a native to Lake Norman or visiting for the first time, you can always try something new at one of these excellent restaurants. Be sure to tag us on social media @VisitLakeNorman to share your experience!
